This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Heard a shout of someone calling
Strained in darkness
Vapor, like a veil, hangs over
The city tonight
Hanging there behind the trees
A blood-red moon is watching
I was waiting for you
Dread in my head
Where the wind sings by the river
Laughing, broken
Hair swept out into the water
Ripples of black
Run, you better run
You better run for your life
Oh, it rips through the sky
But light flickers on
Jo, I know you would say
"Don't wait for me now"
Shiver while you're breathing
All the while you breath land (Oh, you see winter)
Shiver while you're breathing
All the while I breath land
Filigree of time demeaning
Sunset, spoken
Where the wind sings by the river
Ripples of black
Days, you gotta run
You gotta run for your life
Run, you better run
You better run for your life
Days, you gotta run
You gotta run for your life
Run, you better run
You better run for your life
Days, you gotta run
You gotta run for your life
Run, you better run
You better run for your life
Days, you gotta run
Oh, your light, feel you breath
Don't run, you're here with me
Breathe your life while you wait
Don't wait for me now
You gotta run
You gotta run
You gotta run
You gotta run
You gotta run
You gotta run
You gotta run
You gotta run
You gotta run
You gotta run for your life
Strained in darkness
Vapor, like a veil, hangs over
The city tonight
Hanging there behind the trees
A blood-red moon is watching
I was waiting for you
Dread in my head
Where the wind sings by the river
Laughing, broken
Hair swept out into the water
Ripples of black
Run, you better run
You better run for your life
Oh, it rips through the sky
But light flickers on
Jo, I know you would say
"Don't wait for me now"
Shiver while you're breathing
All the while you breath land (Oh, you see winter)
Shiver while you're breathing
All the while I breath land
Filigree of time demeaning
Sunset, spoken
Where the wind sings by the river
Ripples of black
Days, you gotta run
You gotta run for your life
Run, you better run
You better run for your life
Days, you gotta run
You gotta run for your life
Run, you better run
You better run for your life
Days, you gotta run
You gotta run for your life
Run, you better run
You better run for your life
Days, you gotta run
Oh, your light, feel you breath
Don't run, you're here with me
Breathe your life while you wait
Don't wait for me now
You gotta run
You gotta run
You gotta run
You gotta run
You gotta run
You gotta run
You gotta run
You gotta run
You gotta run
You gotta run for your life
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absolutely stunning. This song is very delicate.. but haunting. 3 minutes into the song onwards kills me. theres a virginal ecstasy to it.
"virginal ecstacy", gross